Means for quenching and arresting fires in mines.



R. D. GOGHRANE. MEANS FOR QUENGHING- AND ARRESTING FIRES IN MINES.

- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1910. 1,000,236, Patented Aug. 8,1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOGEAPH C0,, WASHING'IIDN, D- C.

RALPH DIXON COCHRANE, F I-IETTON-LE-I-IOLE, ENGLAND.

MEANS FOR QUENCI-IING AND ARRESTING FIRES IN MINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 25, 1910.

Serial No. 568,917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH DIXON CooH- RANE, a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Voodlands, Hetton-le-Hole, in the county of Durham, in that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and he land called England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Quenching and Arresting Fires in Mines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 a cross section and Fig. 3 a plan.

This invention is an improved means for quenching and arresting explosions in mines, and consists in utilizing the increased velocity of the air in front of the flame of the explosion, to operate certain arrangements whereby a water, or other liquid shower, screen or curtain is formed in the path of the flame.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide in a suitable position in the airway, a door-like wind-vane or valve, which under the normal conditions of the mine will stand at right angles, or thereabout, to the direction of the run of the airway, and be movable in both directions on hinges, or a vertical spindle. WVhen the air in the air-way rushes forward at an increased speed in front of the flame of an explosion, the said wind-vane or valve opens, and in so doing operates means whereby plain, or chemicalized water, or other liquid, under ordinary or increased pressure, is sprayed downward, upward, sidewise, or otherwise, or in a combination of such directions, so as to form a water, or other liquid shower, screen or curtain, in the path of the flame and through which it will not pass. The said water, or other liquid, shower, screen or curtain may be formed in the same plane as the wind-vane or valve, or it may be in advance, or rearward thereof, and there may be more than one such wind-vane or valve, and its associated arrangements in one air-way.

As an example of one way in which my invention may be put in practice, I provide a water trough or other suitable receptacle which extends from side to side of the airway so as not to interfere with the head-way. Forward of the said receptacle I provide one of the above mentioned wind-vanes or Valves, and aft of it I provide another such vane or valve.

The vane or valve may be in the shape ofv Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

pipes, say parallel with the run of the airway and communication bet-ween these pipes and the water receptacle may be established or interrupted by operating a suitable cock, which is provided with a lever handle to which is attached one end of a connecting rod the other end of the said connecting rod being attached to the crank at the upper end of the vane or valve spindle.

The wind-vane or valve may be weighted or hung so that it will automatically return to its normal position when the increased pressure of the air is removed, whereupon the cock will become closed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through an air-way in a mine. Fig. 2 shows a transverse section, and Fig. 3 shows the valve operating means on a larger scale than in Figs. 1 and 2.

a is the airway.

b are the doors or valves free to move on uprights 0.

(Z is a tank for water or other liquid extending across the roof of the air-way, with which tank communicates the perforated pipes e.

f is a cock for establishing and interrupting communication between the tank d and pipes e.

g is the handle of the cock f, to which handle is attached one end of each of the connecting rods h, and the other ends of the rods it being pivoted to the doors 2).:-

It will be obvious that movement by the doors 5 will open the cock f, and permit the contents of the tank d to spray out through the perforations in the pipes 6.

Instead of employing the wind-vane or valve to operate a cock as already described, it may be used to overturn a balanced or other water trough or troughs fixed near the roof or elsewhere and furnished with a perforated lid, or with perforated lids, and such troughs may be combined with a pipe arrangement.

WVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, in an air passage, of a vane held against normal pressures oi air in said passage, but yielding when there is a rush of air, a supply of liquid provided at the top of said passage, spray pipes connected thereto, and means operated by said vane for releasing said liquid and permit ting it to flow through said spray pipes, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination, in an air passage, of a vane held againstnormal pressures of air in said passage, but yielding when there is a rush of air, a supply of liquid provided at the top of said passage, spray pipes connected thereto, and a valve operated by said vane for releasing said liquid and permitting it to flow through said spray pipes, substantially as described.

3. In an air-way of a mine, the combination of a wind vane projecting into the run of the said air-way, means for holding said wind vane in the normal position, but yielding when the air current is materially increased, a source of liquid supply, and means actuated by said wind vane for spraying said liquid in said air-way, substantially as described.

t. Means substantially as hereinafter described fo-r quenching and arresting eXplosions in a mine, the said means consisting essentially of a wind-vane hinged to the side of an air-way so that it is free to swing in either direction; a reservoir for liquid; perforated pipes connected with the said reservoir; and means for establishing and interrupting communication between the said reservoir and the said pipes operated by the increased velocity of the air in front of an explosion acting on the said wind-vane, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH DIXON COOI-IRANE.

I/Vitnesses FRANCIS GLEGG, WM. T. LAING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

